A blog that takes the reader through the principles of Lean Management and Six Sigma in a practical way. The ultimate goal is to help the medical practice to meet its goal of becoming more efficient in providing care and meeting the patients needs. | Contact Owen Dahl at 832-260-4455 or at his website OwenDahlConsulting.com

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

More from the Maxwell presentation at MGMA and a Lean Belt

I was intrigued by the themes and concepts that John Maxwell espoused during his presentation. His key points have been a part of what we talk about when we look at the MGMA Lean Six Sigma Belt program. Those points were:

Culture – in order to change, to grow, to eliminate inefficiencies, and to improve patient care your culture must focus on or allow changes to achieve these outcomes. It is essential that you understand your culture – this is not expressed just in words in a mission or value statement but more likely in deeds. Stating your values around quality care, respect, etc. is not the true culture. It is what occurs, activities, tasks and daily words used that creates and defines your culture. Take a serious look at yours.

Value – we talk about Lean principles are built on the concept of adding value to the customer. Value-add activities and tasks built into your culture will lead your business to be successful. Eliminate non-value add activities! Imagine if you made an effort to add value to someone or something every day and this attitude became pervasive throughout your business.

Rule of 5 – in Lean programs we talk about the FIVE whys. A great set of questions about why you or one of your fellow employees is doing something or doing it in a certain way. You can always improve by asking your self why. Slightly different is the Maxwell rule of 5 but it built on the same principle. Work to improve daily, and focus on five steps or ways that you can improve. Do it daily.

Finally, Maxwell talked about the importance of working together as a team. Work in a positive culture that encourages growth, that allows you individually to grow and at the same time improve the outcomes of your team.

It was amazing to hear him talk about so many of the keys that we identify in our belt programs!

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About Me

Owen J. Dahl, MBA, FACHE, LSSMBB, has been active in healthcare management for almost 40 years. He received his bachelor’s degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, where he was a member of the first graduating class in the hospital administration program. He then spent more than a decade as a hospital administrator in various facilities in South Dakota. He also served in the United States Air Force.

His move to New Orleans in 1983 brought a major career change. He started a practice management and billing company, which grew to manage 65 physicians in 11 different practices with revenues well over $75 million. In 1993, he advanced to Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives with a paper on Total Quality Management and its application to the medical practice. He also received the distinction of becoming the first non-physician member of the Orleans Parish Medical Services Bureau Board of Directors.

Throughout his career, Owen has maintained a passion for education. He developed an adult continuing education program with Loyola University of New Orleans in physician practice management. He also is the original developer of the certification program for the Professional Association of Health Care Office Managers (PAHCOM) and the Institute of Certified Healthcare Business Consultants (ICHBC). The Institute program is currently available online through the National Society of Certified Healthcare Business Consultants (NSCHBC). He has worked with the Louisiana State University Medical School Department of Graduate Medical Education conducting seminars for students, residents, and fellows in physician practice management.